Hachijōjima
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 Hachijōjima (八丈島 Hachijō-jima; Hachijō Island) is a Japanese island in the Pacific Ocean, administered by Tokyo and located 300 kilometers south of the Special Wards of Tokyo. Hachijo Town (八丈町 Hachijō-machi) governs the island. The chief community in the town is Mitsune. Other communities are Nakanogo, Kashitate, and Ohkago. As of 2008, the island's population is 8,592. Hachijōjima, along with the other Izu Islands, is officially part of Tokyo. The islands form part of the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park. During the Edo period, the island was a place of exile for convicts.
TransportationHachijōjima is accessible both by plane and by ferry. A pedestrian ferry leaves Tokyo once every day at 10 p.m., and arrives at Hachijo at 9:00 a.m. the following day. As of 2005, the ferry costs about US$140 round trip. Air travel to Hachijojima Airport takes 45 minutes from Tokyo International Airport (Haneda), and a round trip ticket is about US$200. It is possible to hire cars and bicycles on the island. AccommodationAccommodation on Hachijōjima is plentiful, and prices start around ¥4,000 per night. It also has a free campsite that is open year round; reservations are not required. The campsite has numerous BBQ pits, cold showers and full cooking facilities. There are many Japanese-style inns, and several larger hotels. ActivitiesHachijōjima is popular with surfers, with three reef breaks and consistently warm water all year round. Due to the fact Hachijōjima is a volcanic island there are no sandy beaches apart from a small one next to the main harbour but there are various skin diving/snorkeling points to explore. Hachijōjima's scuba diving points are many and varied. Nazumado is the best known of them, and is considered to be one of the top ten dive points in Japan. Sea turtles are common and underwater lava bridges are typical features for a volcanic island. Hachijōjima is also known for its natural onsen, hiking, waterfalls, and natural beauty. Between the months of May to September seven varieties of bioluminescent mushrooms can be seen. Free tours are organised nightly by the local mushroom association. Bookings required. Other activities for visitors include visiting the botanical gardens, exploring wartime tunnels, day trips to nearby Kojima island and hiking to the top of Hachijo-fuji, the island's extinct volcano. Kihachijo silk cloth is woven on the island, and one of the workshops in Nakanogo is open to tourists. There is also a free geothermal power museum. FoodHachijōjima is famous for its sushi and kusaya. Local cooking also makes use of the ashitaba plant in dishes such as ashitaba soba and tempura. DialectThe Hachijo Dialect is the most divergent from standard Japanese of all the Japanese dialects. It retains some archaic features no longer found in other forms of Japanese. EducationThe town operates its public elementary and junior high schools. Tokyo Metropolitan Government Board of Education operates Hachijo High School [1]. See also
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